PHOTO WALK: LEARNING INSTRUMENT

In terms of scientific knowledge – walking is one of the best exercises as experts would say, simply because it helps the circulatory system function better and as a result it also improves someone’s thinking faculties as the blood delivers oxygen to the brain faster, and thus giving more oxygen to the brain that it needs to consume during a thinking activity. Little we realize that through walking we also get the chance to do other meaningful things like perhaps taking a photo. Walking lets you travel and wander around to see the beautiful gifts of nature, to know the story behind people that you meet in the street, and to make sense of the different realities that unfold in your eyes as you walk, something that you can relate to – photo walking.

On September 20, Friday the group of Mass Communications Technology (La Verdad Christian College- Caloocan) was scheduled for a photo walk activity. The students will now execute all the lessons they have learned during the discussions and seminars in photography. How to make a good angle, how to set the ISO, shutter speed, aperture or in short how to take a perfect picture. Each one of us gets more excited after the activity instructor divided the groups. At 9am all was settled and geared, every group has its team leader (a PHOTOVILLE international member) ready to get it on. 

The first destination is in the vicinity of Intramuros, as the group went on we spotted a child which is leaning in a cemented wall, waiting for the passer by to give him pennies. Not wanting to lose the moment my colleagues rushed to get their cameras, (DSLR and point and shoot) the boy was not that shy he keeps smiling to all those who is after to get a portrait from him. As a token they gave him biscuits and candies. On the other street there are three children playing, the other child- a girl gives attraction to my companions she is very active and loves to pose on every students taking pictures.

However near the children playing, someone attracted me, a woman in her 60’s I bet dressing rugged clothes she was busy arranging garbage. She has a wooden cart full of big black bags, afraid to disturb her I slowly went backwards to take a photo of her, maybe she feels that someone is attentively looking at her she glanced to me 5 seconds, blank face, then turn again to do her stuff. Ironic as it may seems that woman who is already a candidate for retiring to work still needs to convince herself she have to do it, no matter how bright the sun is, no matter how weak her bones is and no matter how the smell and dirt of the garbage penetrates to her nostrils she will do it or else she will be starving.

” Too many subjects, beautiful sceneries”, said by a student who, not from a far, saw a Canadian woman named Marie, a tourist who wanted to visit the beautiful places in the Philippines. She was surprised with the group of boys and girls who run after her who are eager to take pictures of her.

Look. Talk. Walk. Stop.  Shoot.  Even though it gives cramps to our legs and back yet the eyes do not get tired. From the riverside where we found cargo ships and ‘bangka,’ we stayed there and take pictures of a man riding on that ‘bangka.’  However, three young boys who fearlessly dive from the bridge into the water to bathe themselves got the attention of the students and also took pictures of them. Rest for a while then the students went to Luneta Park, and took pictures of pigeons, kalesa, children playing and the dancing fountain.

The last destination was in Manila Bay, the weather is not friendly anymore raindrops started to fall but it did not last long so we are able to get pictures. When I went on walking and looking for my subject three young girls with unwashed clothes perhaps got my attention. They are laughing hard, chasing each other and then keep teasing. I talked to them and asked where they live and said “here” I cannot explain but I am really happy that time I cannot resist myself to take pictures from them. These three young girls also love to pose and asked me and my other friends to take pictures of them.

When I am on my way home, on the LRT all the things that we encountered in our photo walk flashbacked on my mind. I was very happy that our instructor together with his co-photographers allowed us to experience such activity. This event taught me not only the technical aspect in photography rather it opened my eyes and my heart to a reality. I am really blessed I can go to school, eat three (more than three actually) times a day, I have clothes to wear and things I needed. I learn to appreciate more and more as I got to know these things. So walking and taking photos make harmonious relationship, giving us an opportunity to value our nature and to know the story of others and able to help them in a little way we can. It serves as a learning instrument to us in being grateful, Thanked God that I saw the bigger purpose of photo walk. 

FEELING BLESSED

Is it really over? As I was sitting on a pavement outside the convention center in Apalit and waiting for a public transportation vehicle to arrive I try to recall the scenarios happened in the last three days. I remembered the early morning rise (around 2 or 3am), the rushing feeling of going to the bath rooms, the narrow and busy passages that people walks by and by every break time, the lively performance singing songs of praises and most especially the unfathomable teachings that each brethren understood with God’s help. Each scene was pictured in my mind while we wait for almost an hour and a half. I remembered how I prepared a week before the thanksgiving- arranging all the stuffs I need for three days, from clothes to wear, hygienic materials even slippers and handkerchief and most importantly- the heart. I always hear from Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon that one must not have a heavy heart which consist of hatred, jealousy and alike especially when attending occasions intended to worship God. I feel the excitement as I am looking forward to the teaching I will be learning from my preachers. Though three days had rapidly passed I still wanted to reminisce each breathtaking time when Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel explain the topics in the last International thanksgiving.

Once more, an overwhelming experience is what I felt when I witness my brothers and sisters in faith coming from the continents of Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe, South and North America, and Australia actively participating in singing songs of praises, moreover how attentive they listen when it comes to the topics being delivered. Distance, time zone and language are not an impediment for the Members of Church of God International to offer the sacrifice of Thanksgiving to God. For the last three days Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel delivered four topics that even a man spent decades in his past religious affiliation can testify they never heard such. With that, I also have the courage to say “So do I”, I hear many teachings of different religions and none of those can be compared to what we have understood with God’s help. The topics discussed were subjects I have not imagined before and it became very clear after Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel talk about. All topics are really striking and much worth for the time the brethren spent. No one can deny the fact that each detail is essential as Bro. Daniel say “Nothing to lose but everything to gain”. There is also a part wherein Bro. Eli told us the authenticity of the Bible, each angle he showed amazed me. If I may describe the feeling I had that time it is mind-blowing. I thanked God for the abundant topics he taught through his preachers, I feel very full not only materially but spiritually. It was also heartwarming when Bro. Eli said that because of faith our brethren are able to endure staying late at night with very little sleep to listen to the teachings.

It came to a point that we need to go home for now because the 3^rd day of thanksgiving ended but before we go to a closing prayer Bro. Eli said he is very thankful that he got to know his brothers and sisters in faith in which these people by faith always help the congregation. Even if I am a little sad because we ended the thanksgiving Bro. Eli already announced the upcoming 4^th quarter of International Thanksgiving in December and still there is regular thanksgiving every Saturdays so nothing to be sad at all. Thanks be to God for I was able to learn these things which are very vital to salvation. As we still wait for the bus until 3am, and thought that maybe it will arrived at 5am we decided to ride on a van. When I walk towards the vehicle I felt the happiness penetrating in my being, embracing such happy memories and as I close the door of the van I can’t help but smile because, again for that moment in time, I am one of the brethren who feel blessed.